A suicide bomber has reportedly died in an attempt to wreak havoc on a popular mosque in Potiskum, Yobe State, North-East Nigeria.

Witnesses told Channels Television that the suicide bomber was conveying his Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to the popular Sakafa Mosque in Potiskum when it exploded.

“Yes, the bomber was conveying the explosive devices and in an attempt to cross the last gutter to reach his target…the explosives went off on the spot,” an eyewitness said.

The source also told Channels Television that the bomber did not die on the spot as he was taken to the Potiskum General Hospital where he later died.

Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr Toyin Gbadegesin, who confirmed the incident, told Channels TV that the explosion occurred around 4:20pm at the popular Moscow line in the heart of Potiskum town.

He also said that apart from killing himself and injuring eight others, the explosion also damaged a car.

Monday’s attempted suicide bomb attack on the commercial town was the first since the conclusion of both the presidential and the governorship elections.